Up from Nothing: The Untold Story of How We (All) Succeed

by John Hope Bryant, Andrew Young (Foreword)

A bestselling author and entrepreneur outlines the mindset and methods we need to achieve the American Dream no matter what our current circumstances are.Facing a challenging economy, too many Americans despair of improving their lives. But John Hope Bryant insists that America is still the Land of Opportunity. Up from Nothing revives the forgotten story of the American Dream. It’s about our beginnings as a nation of go-getters who believed they were winners before they won.Using the inspiring story of his own rise from humble beginnings, and that of his parents and grandparents, Bryant shows how individually we can change our mindset from survivor to thriver to winner and move beyond just getting by or being financially independent to becoming wildly successful. Collectively, we need to become a nation of winners once again. By ensuring that every stakeholder in America has access to the Five Pillars of Success—massive education, financial literacy, strong family structure, self-esteem, and supportive role models—Bryant shows how we can fulfill the promise of America's greatness. But to do so, we must turn away from distractions—such as political in-fighting or racial and class divisions—and focus on what we can control. This is not a book of tips on how to get a better job or make more money. It’s about adopting a new way of thinking that will do all that for us and more. Up from Nothing is the new (old) business plan to keep us winning as a country.“John Bryant reminds us that the American Dream wasn’t meant for some of us, but for all of us. Nobody has worked harder to lift the horizons for those without hope.” —Quincy Jones“John takes us back to an idea of America where all can win. Instead of getting mired down by envy, greed, hate, and despair, John challenges us to rise up with positive thinking, self-confidence, aspiration, and hope—and to do it together.” —Brad Hanson, president and CEO, Meta Financial Group and Metabank

193 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 6, 2020

About the author

John Hope Bryant is an entrepreneur, author, advisor, and one of the nation’s most recognized empowerment leaders. He is the founder, chairman, and CEO of Operation HOPE and Bryant Group Companies, and, as the author of Love Leadership: The New Way to Lead in a Fear-Based World (Jossey– Bass, 2009), is the only African-American best-selling business author in America. Mr. Bryant serves for President Barack Obama as chairman of the President’s Advisory Council on Financial Capability, Subcommittee on the Underserved and Community Empowerment.

Mr. Bryant is the cofounder of the Gallup– HOPE Index, the only national research poll on youth financial dignity and youth economic energy in the United States. He also is a cofounder of Global Dignity, with Crown Prince Haakon of Norway and Professor Pekka Himanen of Finland. Global Dignity is affiliated with the Forum of Young Global Leaders and the World Economic Forum.

Mr. Bryant is a thought leader represented by the Bright- Sight Group for public speaking and serves on the board of directors of Ares Commercial Real Estate Corporation (NYSE: ACRE), a specialty finance company managed by an affiliate of Ares Management LLC, a global alternative asset manager with approximately $59 billion in committed capital under management as of December 31, 2012.

Reviews

[أحمد فتحى سليمان · Rating 4 out of 5]

كتاب جيد ورغم انه يتكلم عن أميركا تحديد الا ان به فكرة جوهرية هامة وان لم تكن جديدة ولكنها منسية.. الحالة الذهنية هي ما يحدد انتماءك الطبقي في هذا العصر.. و بقدر قوة الطبقة الفعالة في المجتمع التى تحمل ذهنية الفوز وتريد امتلاك أعمالها الخاصة و(ليس طائراتها الخاصة) بقدر ما تتحول الدولة إلى النجاح.. بينما ان شاعت حالة الهزيمة العقلية والنفسية و السعي المحموم وراء المال وليس النجاح فشلت الدولة

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enlightened discussion on how to believe in yourself no matter where you come from or your circumstances. We all can succeed with hard work and dedication. An easy to read, short tale of humble beginnings, well worth the time investment to read.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Up From Nothing is an inspiring read. It encourages the citizens of The United States of America to realize the opportunities that are available in their country and to work together with one another towards a common goal of success and winning for all. The author shares his own coming up story as well as his involvement in philanthropic activities. He promotes personal responsibility, cultivating relationships and becoming reasonably comfortable in one's own skin. I enjoyed the book and will consider seeking out other material by John Hope Bryant and learning more about his organization Operation HOPE Inc.

[Ioana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a total surprise for me.

Through it I got to meet its author and read his story. While it features many of his entrepreneurial and philanthropic endeavors, this book is not his autobiography. This book is an encouragement, is a pat on the back, is a "you can do it". Half self help, half love letter to US, this is a book about how can we all succeed, with simple, but strong suggestions and a lot of stories about how you can make it. While it is addressed to Americans, and especially black Americans, there are valuable lessons here for anyone.

Along with the abundance of stories, down to earth pieces of advice about how the world works and how one can rise up, what makes this book a very good read is the positive vibe it enhances. It's a book to bring hope, to get you going, to open you up to possibilities, it's an inspiration.

I am grateful to have received an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

The message that Jonh Hope offers us in his book, it's essential, it is our hands change our future and the future of our nations. We can complain about the things that happen to us, or we can focus on the negative things, or we can do something about it. We need to take ownership. He presents a new model of winning, the 5 pillars of success, Education, Understand the numbers, family, self-esteem, and confidence, and role models; that if we understand them and support all the community will help us create a better and equal world.

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

On the one hand I love the author's message to stop letting ourselves be divided by race, gender, national origin and so forth. That's great. But he always says the reason we shouldn't be divided is so we can focus more on earning money. I just really think that appealing to greed ends up leading us in the wrong direction, especially if that's the only reason you're providing for people to not fall to the worst inclinations of human nature in being exclusionary. After all, you don't see rich white people falling all over themselves to help poor white people. It's not because of racism. It's because rich white people are already greedy and don't care about anybody else. How can you get people to care about other people? Tell them they'll make more money that way? I don't know - I feel like that's part of the story of how we got where we are right now. 40 years of deregulation, tax cuts for the rich, and free trade religion have resulted in the people at the bottom having less opportunity, less rewarding jobs, if they even have jobs and the top 1% reaping a larger and larger percentage of the profits. I'd be interested in having a real conversation with this author because I think he is on the right track, but maybe is only going so far along that track with this message.

[John Richards · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Real Color in America?

I picked up this book for a book club I’m in. First, I’ll say that I have respect for men and women who move from poverty to wealth in one generation. It’s a story worth telling. I just think how you tell the story brings people hope or despair. I think Bryant is a brilliant man and naturally inquisitive. With his portfolio, the proof is in the pudding when it comes to business. But I found his social commentary (particularly around injustice) a bit lacking. His assertion to move our anger from the “streets to the suites” is catchy and rhymes, but as someone involved in the work every day, it’s not a reality. The book is a decent biographical read and has its merit. But I would suggest other readings to supplement the “pull yourself up by the bootstraps” mentality that creeps in here.

[Darya · Rating 4 out of 5]

American dream and everything connected to it. I have never lived in America but visited several times. It could be the places and people around me but I was always fascinated by the diversity vibes. Diversity and positive attitude for success are the factors to prosperity. American dream exists for those who believe in it.

[Jackie Lantern · Rating 1 out of 5]

Archived before the date they published it would be archived, so never got to read it ... it’s like they approved my request and immediately archived it in one fell swoop. Fail.

[Richard L. James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good implementing solutions for American society.

[Roy Van Den Brande · Rating 1 out of 5]

Murica: The book. American Dream clichés and positive wishful thinking without real answers or solutions.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very quick read (listen). The general concept is great but I think there's too much focus on making money.

[Nate Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book written in 2020 about the power of Capitalism and a positive belief in oneself to help our racial wealth inequality gap.

[Marwa]

فوز،
يسر، أفكارك
فوز ،أركان

فرص، قيمة، طف قس
زكاة

فوز
أركان،💜، يسر 🎁
تواصل 🤲

[Jahkenan Lloyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like the way of thinking this book narrates. It’s very short and sweet. It also gives hope to blacks willing to become what they envision.